Construction company appeals for funds to complete B/A Regional Library
Aliya Construction Enterprise, a Sunyani-based building and road construction company has appealed to the government for funds to complete work on the Brong-Ahafo Regional Library Complex.
The project being financed by the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) was awarded to the company in November 2011 and was scheduled for completion in January 2013.
It is a 600-capacity library has with facilities for adults and children libraries, reference and lending section, lecture rooms, research, seminar and conference hall, audio and video rooms, multi-purpose hall and Information-Communication-Technology (ICT) section.
Mr Douglas Twum, Project Manager of the company, who was speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Sunyani said the contract sum was about GH¢1.4 million.
He pointed out that about 98 per cent of work on blocks B and D out of the six blocks had been completed but the GETFund was yet to honour the first certificate presented in June 2012.
Mr Twum said the company pre-financed the project because of the need to complete on schedule, and had so far spent about GH¢350,000, therefore, its completion was linked to the payment or availability of funds.
“The deadline for completion was January 2013 but could not complete because we have not been paid a pesewa by the GETFund,” he added.
The Project Manager explained that the project was divided into blocks from A to F, and because of the need for the Ghana Library Authority (Gh.L.A) to occupy the facility, Architectural and Engineering Services Limited (AESL), the project consultants instructed that the B and D blocks should be completed first.
“Even one of these two blocks is bigger and more spacious than the premises presently being occupied by the Brong-Ahafo Regional Gh.L.A. The blocks A, E and C are a two-storey building, B and D is separate single storey buildings whilst block F is a three-storey building.”
Mr Abubakari Sidique, General Manager of the company said in addition to the completion of blocks B and D, they had completed fencing, paving the ground and fixed metal burglar-proof grills for all the windows.
“Even the cost of these completed aspects, were not included in the certificate presented in June 2012, “he added.
Mr Frederic Baada, Brong-Ahafo Regional Librarian, speaking to the GNA, recalled that the project was earlier awarded to M/S Ttenneb Mas Limited, a Sunyani-based building construction firm in 2004 and was scheduled for completion by February 2006, under the Public Sector Investment Project (PSIP).
However, the company opted for the termination of the contract “on grounds of insolvency” in November 2009.
Mr Baada said on completion, the project would provide adequate accommodation for all its activities and services in the Region.
He said work on the project, originally estimated at about GH¢1.0 million, had to stop and later resumed, but was formally and finally terminated because of the non-payment to the contractor (M/S Ttenneb Mas Limited) who had pre-financed it.
Source: GNA